A Rowdy Reception at Rep. Grimm’s Town Hall

Brooklyn and Staten Island constituents gave Rep. Michael Grimm an earful during a contentious town hall-style meeting Wednesday night.

About 100 people turned up to argue about health care, budget problems, immigration and abortion in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. While some attendees said they were aware of the recent New Yorker article alleging misconduct during Grimm’s FBI years, including an account of a 1999 incident in which he allegedly pulled out his gun inside a nightclub, the discussion stuck to political issues.

Grimm declined to comment on the article.

“Congressman Grimm voted for the Republican budget that will cut Medicare for folks like my mom, me eventually, my wife” said Brad Kerr, 30, who had the magazine article folded up in his pocket. “This personal stuff is nonsense — we’re here because we’re worried about our country, not whatever happened when he was an FBI agent.”

Grimm, a Republican serving his first term in the House, said he understood that not everyone would agree with him and acknowledged his support for Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget proposal — a particularly contentious point of discussion — saying he would vote for it again if given the chance.

During the meeting Grimm raised his voice above the crowd several times and asked people to give others a chance to speak, but the debate heated up when several constituents refused to yield. Grimm warned two different women that they would be escorted out when they started to interrupt and then refused to answer one of their questions, saying he didn’t like her tone.

“I’m not going to be disrespected or allow anyone else to be disrespected,” he said. “It’s not nice, it’s inappropriate.”

Cheers and boos rang throughout the meeting, which did not use pre-written questions as was originally planned. Residents seized that opportunity to be heard.

Kathy Roberson’s main concern was Medicare. The 67-year-old social worker said she didn’t believe Grimm cared about his constituents.

“The cost of healthcare is skyrocketing and they are transferring the cost of it to regular citizens,” Roberson said. “Average folk, they can barely pay their rent in this area.”

Grimm said he thought the night was a success, adding that he plans to hold Thursday night’s Staten Island forum the same way. “Overall people got to speak their mind and give their opinions and say I was wrong on something where others said I was right,” he said, “and I think that was all part of it.”